Local Attractions & Suggested Itineraries
We are thrilled that many of our guests are planning a larger vacation around our wedding day. California is a very special place for us; it is where met and fell in love! Because there is so much to do in this beautiful part of the country, we have put together a list of our favorite places and activities to help you plan your trip.
A great Northern California resource for planning your trip is www.yelp.com. This is a site where people can set up profiles and review restaurants, parks, boutiques, etc. Please feel free to check out my profile where I have reviewed many of our favorite places and activities.
Exploring the City
San Francisco is our favorite city in the United States (maybe the world!) so if you have never been, we highly recommend spending a few days checking it out. You can read all about the typical attractions like Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard Street and Ghirardelli Square in guidebooks and online, but if you want to experience the city like a true local, make it a point to:
- Grab an almond croissant and a coffee from Tartine Bakery and take it to Dolores Park for a sunny picnic breakfast.
- Drive up to Twin Peaks Tower and see a view of the entire city, East Bay and North Bay.
- Take a walk through Golden Gate Park and visit the Rose Garden, see some bison and play bocce ball at Speedway Meadows.
- Drive out to Baker Beach to see the ocean, Golden Gate Bridge, and walk in the sand.
- Shop ‘til you drop at the boutiques on Union Street and Chestnut Street in the Marina.
- Walk through Pacific Heights to the Lyon Street steps to see some amazing views and beautiful old mansions.
- Visit some of our favorite restaurants:
National Parks, Hiking Spots, and other Outdoorsy Activities
- Muir Woods – Just over the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods has a variety of trails that lead through the redwoods all the way to the ocean, Muir Beach Overlook, and the German Tourist Club, a Bavarian beerhouse in the middle of the woods.
- Tennessee Valley - For an easy family hike, check out the Tennessee Valley region, just beyond the Muir Headlands
- Yosemite National Park
- Lake Tahoe
- Sequoia National Park
- Mt. Shasta
- Bodega Bay
Wine Country
If you plan to explore Wine Country, here are a couple of our favorite places to visit:
- Benziger Family Winery - A favorite of ours, Benziger is a biodynamic winery which is the highest level of organic certification. For $10 you can take a 45 minute tour of the vineyard, which includes a trip inside their caves, to learn all about the wine-making process. Tour also includes free wine (and sometimes grape off of the vine) tasting! Make sure to try their buttery Chardonnay.
- St. Francis - The staff at St. Francis is incredibly knowledgeable and the wines are delicious. The grounds are also a great place to relax and take in the view. The Old Vines Zinfandel is a favorite of ours. We recently went for lunch and experienced their Wine & Food Tasting which was fantastic!
- Cakebread - Although we have never been to this winery, we hear nothing but great things about it! It is on our list of places to visit. Please note that tasting is by appointment only.
- St. Helena Olive Oil Company - This unique shop offer artisan extra virgin olive oils, vinegar, gourmet food products, home design items and beauty products. The best part is, you can sample everything before you buy it!
- Viansa - A combination winery and gourmet food shop also have beautiful grounds with stunning views of Sonoma County. If you need a snack or a gift to bring back home, this is your place.
Trip down the Coast
If you want some of the most dramatic and breathtaking views available in the U.S., then take a drive down California 1 and visit some of our favorite sites:
- Monterey / Carmel – These picaresque cities by the sea are ideal for window shopping. Monterey is also home to the Monterey Bay Aquarium which is quite impressive.
- Point Lobos State Park– This park offers a beautiful easy hike down the coast to Bird Island and China Beach. When Michael and I hiked to China Beach we saw sea otters!
- Big Sur– www.bigsurcalifornia.org There are many hiking and camping spots throughout Big Sur. Stop at Nepenthe for burgers which you eat cliffside with an amazing ocean view.
- Elephant Seal Beach – www.elephantseal.org/ Just a few exits north of the Hearst Castle, this beach is home to hundreds of elephant seals that lounge on the sand all day long. It’s quite amazing to see in person.
- Cambria/Hearst Castle– The opulent mansion, which took nearly 30 years to complete, is worth the drive. Get advance tickets for the “Tour 1: The Experience Tour” for an overview of the historic estate.
- Paso Robles – About 30 minutes inland from Cambria, Paso has close to 150 wineries; the region is known for its Zinfandel.